[WFRP] The Hour After Midnight (II)

[LCP]

Illiiya & Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Started awake by Illiiya's shriek, the Hound jolted upright in his chair, opening his eyes - caught halfway through the word it was writing, the rat scurried away, writhing through the bars and zooming off down the corridor even as the militiaman leapt to his feet. Wild-eyed, he ran forward to the cell door, staring down at the letters that had been scrawled over and over each other at Illiiya's feet.

"What in Sigmar's...."

[hr]

Raffy & Pieter

Spoiler

Show

The table erupted in murmurs at Raffy's plans - banging his hand on the table, it was some time before Klaus could restore order.

"If we don't take risks," said the man who had spoken of weapons, "I could see it workin'. Maybe not as many as you'd hoped, Mr Rafale, but..."

"Where will we find volunteers to be decoys?" asked another voice. "I can see the people fighting for their homes - but running alone..."

"Until we get the word out about the Baroness, surely we want to keep the 'Sparrowhawk' hidden!"

"I say he's right! I say we take the fight to the Hounds!"

As Klaus shouted for quiet, the door flung open, bringing a gust of cold, night air with it - a young lad, barely more than a boy, stumbled over the threshold.

"The Hounds!" he panted. "The Hounds are gathering at the top of the Altdorf Road! All of them!"

Leaning against the threshold, he looked around the meeting, still catching his breath.

"They're saying the Lector's left the castle. They're saying he's headed for the Cathedral!"

[goblinpaladin]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

Thinking quickly, Lothar pointed after the rat. "Bloody thing snuck in, was tryin' it's warped magic on Illiiya! She managed to scare the sodding thing off, but- tried to beat it with her own fists."

[LCP]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

Wrinkling his brow, the man pointed to the letters on the floor.

"No, look, it was talkin' to her!"

He stepped back, looking at Lothar and shaking his head.

"This is what we were s'posed to be watchin' for," he said, fearfully. "She's tellin' 'em what to do!"

[goblinpaladin]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

Lothar shook his head, pointing at the same letters. "Those aren't normal letters! It's a spell!" He looked up at Illiiya. "Tell him, Illiiya, 's drawin' a spell at you, like them others. We must've stopped it."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya Jaelrae

Spoiler

Show

It is trying to kill me! Illiiya said frantically, looking after the fleeing creature, No no no no no... This cannot be happening! She is trying to get me executed!

Illiiya slid to the ground in defeat, her back pressed firmly against the wall.

It's over... I... I can't do anything to stop it. She said softly, head leaning against her knees. Then she looked up sharply, looking straight at Lothar with wetness seeping into her eyes.

Lothar... I. I can't stop it. You need to go. Get out of this place... this town. Get as far away from here as you can. I don't want you to die. Please...

[goblinpaladin]

Lothar and Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

"We'll stop it, Illiya," said Lothar with a glance at the Hound- a glance that said 'I told you so.' "After all, with me an' Houndy here, the rat wasn't able to complete it's... it's spell. Or whatever it was."

"Now that you're clearly not guilty, you'll get outta here and we can put an end t'this."

[LCP]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

The Hound looked down at the scrawled words with uncomprehending uncertainty: the idea that they might represent some dark curse had clearly put the fear of the gods into him.

"We ought - we ought t'get a priest, have 'im look," he muttered to himself, making no move for the door. Turning to Lothar, he motioned with his crossbow. "You go. I ain't leavin' you here on your own - you're a mite too friendly with her, if you ask me."

[goblinpaladin]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

Lothar nodded. "Makes sense, I s'pose. Oughta be a priest about somewhere in the castle, aye?"

[LCP]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

"Somewhere," said the militiaman, covering Illiiya warily with his crossbow. "Or down Tempelplatz way. I dunno, I been down here with you."

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya + Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Please Lothar... You have to listen to me and go. Don't worry about me! Illiiya pleaded once more, almost certainly being told she was being foolish...

She then slumped down in the corner, head leaned against her knees, and was quiet.

[goblinpaladin]

Lothar & Illiiya

Spoiler

Show

Lothar hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, Illiiya- I'll fetch a priest. You, um. You stay here, and try to make sure them diagrams don't hurt nobody." He nodded to the militiaman.

"You, uh- you shoot any rats what come in."

He left.

[LCP]

Illiiya & Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Paling a little at the idea of more rats, the Hound sat back down, keeping his crossbow trained on Illiiya: as Lothar left, he squinted at her suspiciously.

“You just stay still an’ quiet, Mrs Elf,” he said. “Say anythin’ in funny-talk, and I swear, I’ll shoot you.”

Blundering through the darkned hallways of the castle, Lothar decided the best idea was probably to work his way upwards – bumping into a sleep-addled servant or two, he managed to shake some sense out of them, finally digging one of von Kemperbad’s junior clergymen out of their rooms. Still dressed in only a nightshirt, the priest was jolted into wakefulness by mention of the elf prisoner – wrapping a robe around himself, he followed Lothar as they hurried back down the winding stairs, bare feet flapping against the cold stone.

“The Lector’s not here,” he said, uncertainly. “I’m not sure you should be...”

As Lothar opened the door to the cell corridor, the priest stopped, seeing the Hound with his crossbow still aimed through the bars of Illiiya’s cage. Looking round, an expression of profound relief crossed the man’s face as he lowered his weapon.

Approaching the cell, the priest looked at the cowering elf inside, and the mess of letters that had been scrawled in the dust. Gesturing for the Hound to open the door, he stepped carefully inside, stooping down to look at what had been written.

“This is the woman Samtzunge’s name,” he said, slowly. “What does this mean, elf?”
“It was a rat, sir!” babbled the Hound, clearly not comfortable with the cell door being opened. “I saw it run off, it was writin’. With a little stick in its mouth!”
Eyes widening, the priest looked back at Illiiya.
“Is this true?”

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya + Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Illiiya looked up forlornly.

It... it is. It came in here and it was... writing. She said with the voice of someone defeated. It wrote about Lady Maria. But before it could finish, I struck at it and the guards chased it off.

OOC: Has Illiiya's Witch-sight picked up anything this entire time? I'd almost forgotten about it until now. It technically never turns off. I'm kinda guessing something was up with the rat, but if anything is up, I'd like to know.

[LCP]

Illiiya & Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Narrowing his eyes, the priest glanced back down at the writing, then stepped back out into the corridor: the Hound shut the door behind him with a grateful clang, turning the key in the lock.

"That is your claim. What did it write?" he asked, pointing down at the scrambled jumble of words.

OOC (BA Only):

Spoiler

Show

Sorry, I completely forgot! To Illiiya's eyes, the rat pulled a thread of Dhar with it.

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya + Lothar

Spoiler

Show

You will not believe me regardless. Illiiya said with a soft sigh, But... as you wish. It beseeched me to escape from her... as if such a thing were possible... and to hunt down Lady Maria, before she ruins the city. It accused her of being a servant of daemons.

She looked at the scrawled letters in the dirt and then back to the priest.

I... do not know what it means. It was like... the note we received days ago, incriminating the mandrake man. Only sorcery was about it. Powerful sorcery. Something that only a servant of chaos could use.

Or an elf... She finished within her own head, But the chances of another elven magus here are slim beyond reason.

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Pieter frowned, wondering what that meant and what to do about it. The lad seemed to think it was very important.

The initiate glanced at Raffy. "Any idea what's this about?"

[LCP]

Illiiya & Lothar

Spoiler

Show

Drawing himself up, the priest looked to Lothar and the Hound.

"His Eminence must be informed," he said. "You must hold her here until the morning."

Frowning a little, he turned back to Illiiya.

"Asked you to hunt her down?" he said. "Why you? How could you find the woman?"

[BloodyAngel]

Illiiya + Lothar

Spoiler

Show

I could not possibly begin to guess the reasons for a rat's actions. Illiiya said, her voice dryly deadpan, It was likely just an attempt to make me look suspicious. But... I can see the aethyr in ways most people cannot. Though I hardly intend to do the bidding of a rat.

[LCP]

Illiiya & Lothar

Spoiler

Show

"Or the rat was doing your bidding," said the priest, darkly. He held out a hand as the Hound raised his crossbow. "Just... watch her. Make sure she doesn't get up to anything else, and that no more rats gain entrance to her cell. I will inform the Lector as soon as he returns."

"Sigmar watch over you," he said to Lothar and the militiaman, making to leave. "As for you, elf - rest assured, you will have many more questions to answer come the morrow."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy ((Sorry for the double post (sorta), but other things occurred to me.))

Spoiler

Show

"Did you see if the Hounds were armed?" asked Pieter. "Think they may be planning to retaliate against the Fields?" He frowned thoughtfully. "Whatever they're doing, that can't be good news. Perhaps we should try to find out what they're up to."

The initiate cared little about the Lector going to the cathedral. He merely hoped Raffy would not seize this opportunity to attempt something incredibly stupid. <sup>1


1</sup> Tempting fate?

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"When aren't they armed?" snapped one of the other members of the Society. Still out of breath, the messenger-boy nodded.

"'Albermann's there," he said. "They're gettin' organised for something."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Pieter stood.

"Then we better try to know what," he said firmly. "Can't be too hard to keep an eye on a small army in the middle of a city... I'm going to need two or three more volunteers, in case we need to send messengers."

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"I can show you the way," said the boy who had come with the message, seeming enthusiastic to help - several others stood, either revolutionary fervour or human curiosity getting the better of them.

"Guido, Hedric - go with Pieter," said Klaus, motioning for the others to sit down. "The rest of you, stay - too many will draw attention."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Are you armed?" Pieter asked Guido and Hedric. "I'm not expecting any trouble, but we never know."

On his way out, he leaned towards Raffy.
"Where can I find you later?" he asked in a low voice. "I have very important things to discuss regarding the investigation."

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"Any idea what's this about?"

Raffy answers more to the entire assembly than to Pieter.

"It means we have our chance," he says, his jaw squarely set.

When Pieter is given "messengers" Raffy gives Klaus a very meaningful look. But he doesn't interfere.

"I think it's time to fight," he says. "How many of you are ready?"

On his way out, he leaned towards Raffy.
"Where can I find you later?" he asked in a low voice. "I have very important things to discuss regarding the investigation."

Raffy keeps an even tone. "I'll find you," he says. "If I need to."

[LCP]

Raffy & Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"I think it's time to fight," he says. "How many of you are ready?"

"To face the Hounds head on?" said Karl, a disbelieving tone to his voice. "Nowhere near enough. We need the people behind us. Right now, they're mostly trying to sleep."

"Are you armed?" Pieter asked Guido and Hedric. "I'm not expecting any trouble, but we never know."

"Got my dagger," said Hedric. Guido grunted, opening his jerkin to show that he was in the same situation.

[Another_Poet]

Rafale and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"Who said head on?" he asks. "Let's whittle them down!"

[LCP]

Raffy & Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"Didn't you hear him?" came a challenge from down the table. "It's all of them. Not in ones or twos - the whole rotten pack!"

"How do you plan to 'whittle' that down?"

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Got my dagger," said Hedric. Guido grunted, opening his jerkin to show that he was in the same situation.

"Good enough," said Pieter with a nod. "Let's hope we don't need them."

"I think it's time to fight," [Raffy] says."How many of you are ready?"

Pieter shook his head.
"Forget it. The time is wrong. The Hounds are gathered and ready to fight, and the people are at home. We'll never stand a chance."

Raffy keeps an even tone. "I'll find you," he says. "If I need to."

The initiate gritted his teeth.
"You misunderstand. This is important, and we're running out of time."

Edit: Ninja'd twice.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy the Sparrowhawk und Pieter

Spoiler

Show

Seeing that the Societarians were not ready to fight, he tried not to growl back at them. They're not fighters, he thought. That's why you're here. "Very well. Prepare for tomorrow then. Here's the henna - see what you can do."

He sets it on the table and steps toward the door, adding, "I think you'll need to find another scout. I'll have need of Pieter's... particular skills."

He speaks in a lower tone to Pieter. "The castle's practically undefended. You're good with bluffing. This is our chance to get Illiya. You in?"

As an afterthought: "You can even tell me whatever it is on the way."

((Whaddya say, wanna conjoin our spoilers for a bit longer? ))